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almost conclusive of the question。



Sir Arthur was of course examined; his

evidence was given with clearness and

unreserve; which seemed calculated to silence

all suspicion。 He stated that; up to the

day and night immediately preceding the

catastrophe; he had lost to a heavy

amount; but that; at their last sitting; he

had not only won back his original loss;

but upwards of four thousand pounds in

addition; in evidence of which he produced

an acknowledgment of debt to that

amount in the handwriting of the deceased;

and bearing the date of the fatal night。

He had mentioned the circumstance to his

lady; and in presence of some of the

domestics; which statement was

supported by THEIR respective evidence。



One of the jury shrewdly observed; that

the circumstance of Mr。 Tisdall's having

sustained so heavy a loss might have

suggested to some ill…minded persons

accidentally hearing it; the plan of robbing

him; after having murdered him in such a

manner as might make it appear that he

had committed suicide; a supposition

which was strongly supported by the

razors having been found thus displaced;

and removed from their case。 Two persons

had probably been engaged in the

attempt; one watching by the sleeping

man; and ready to strike him in case of

his awakening suddenly; while the other

was procuring the razors and employed in

inflicting the fatal gash; so as to make it

appear to have been the act of the

murdered man himself。 It was said that

while the juror was making this suggestion

Sir Arthur changed colour。



Nothing; however; like legal evidence

appeared against him; and the consequence

was that the verdict was found against a

person or persons unknown; and for some

time the matter was suffered to rest; until;

after about five months; my father

received a letter from a person signing

himself Andrew Collis; and representing

himself to be the cousin of the deceased。 This

letter stated that Sir Arthur was likely to

incur not merely suspicion; but personal

risk; unless he could account for certain

circumstances connected with the recent

murder; and contained a copy of a letter

written by the deceased; and bearing date;

the day of the week; and of the month;

upon the night of which the deed of blood

had been perpetrated。 Tisdall's note ran

as follows:



     'DEAR COLLIS;

          'I have had sharp work with Sir

Arthur; he tried some of his stale tricks;

but soon found that _I_ was Yorkshire too:

it would not doyou understand me。 We

went to the work like good ones; head;

heart and soul; and; in fact; since I came

here; I have lost no time。 I am rather

fagged; but I am sure to be well paid for

my hardship; I never want sleep so long

as I can have the music of a dice…box; and

wherewithal to pay the piper。 As I told

you; he tried some of his queer turns; but

I foiled him like a man; and; in return;

gave him more than he could relish of the

genuine DEAD KNOWLEDGE。



'In short; I have plucked the old

baronet as never baronet was plucked before;

I have scarce left him the stump of

a quill; I have got promissory notes in his

hand to the amount ofif you like round

numbers; say; thirty thousand pounds;

safely deposited in my portable strong…

box; alias double…clasped pocket…book。 I

leave this ruinous old rat…hole early on to…

morrow; for two reasonsfirst; I do not

want to play with Sir Arthur deeper than

I think his security; that is; his money; or

his money's worth; would warrant; and;

secondly; because I am safer a hundred

miles from Sir Arthur than in the house

with him。 Look you; my worthy; I tell

you this between ourselvesI may be

wrong; but; by G; I am as sure as that I

am now living; that Sir A attempted

to poison me last night; so much for old

friendship on both sides。



'When I won the last stake; a heavy one

enough; my friend leant his forehead upon

his hands; and you'll laugh when I tell

you that his head literally smoked like a

hot dumpling。 I do not know whether his

agitation was produced by the plan which

he had against me; or by his having lost so

heavilythough it must be allowed that he

had reason to be a little funked; whichever

way his thoughts went; but he pulled the

bell; and ordered two bottles of

champagne。 While the fellow was bringing

them he drew out a promissory note to the

full amount; which he signed; and; as the

man came in with the bottles and glasses;

he desired him to be off; he filled out a

glass for me; and; while he thought my

eyes were off; for I was putting up his note

at the time; he dropped something slyly

into it; no doubt to sweeten it; but I saw

it all; and; when he handed it to me; I

said; with an emphasis which he might or

might not understand:



' 〃There is some sediment in this; I'll

not drink it。〃



' 〃Is there?〃 said he; and at the same

time snatched it from my hand and threw

it into the fire。 What do you think of

that? have I not a tender chicken to

manage? Win or lose; I will not play

beyond five thousand to…night; and to…

morrow sees me safe out of the reach of

Sir Arthur's champagne。 So; all things

considered; I think you must allow that

you are not the last who have found a

knowing boy in

               'Yours to command;

                         'HUGH TISDALL。'





Of the authenticity of this document I

never heard my father express a doubt;

and I am satisfied that; owing to his

strong conviction in favour of his brother;

he would not have admitted it without

sufficient inquiry; inasmuch as it tended to

confirm the suspicions which already

existed to his prejudice。



Now; the only point in this letter which

made strongly against my uncle; was the

mention of the 'double…clasped pocket…

book' as the receptacle of the papers

likely to involve him; for this pocket…book

was not forthcoming; nor anywhere to be

found; nor had any papers referring to his

gaming transactions been found upon the

dead man。 However; whatever might have

been the original intention of this Collis;

neither my uncle nor my father ever heard

more of him; but he published the letter

in Faulkner's newspaper; which was shortly

afterwards made the vehicle of a much

more mysterious attack。 The passage in

that periodical to which I allude; occurred

about four years afterwards; and while the

fatal occurrence was still fresh in public

recollection。 It commenced by a rambling

preface; stating that 'a CERTAIN PERSON

whom CERTAIN persons thought to be dead;

was not so; but living; and in full possession

of his memory; and moreover ready

and able to make GREAT delinquents

tremble。' It then went on to describe the

murder; without; however; mentioning

names; and in doing so; it entered into

minute and circumstantial particulars of

which none but an EYE…WITNESS could have

been possessed; and by implications almost

too unequivocal to be regarded in the light

of insinuation; to involve the 'TITLED

GAMBLER' in the guilt of the transaction。



My father at once urged Sir Arthur to

proceed against the paper in an action of

libel; but he would not hear of it; nor

consent to my father's taking any legal

steps whatever in the matter。 My father;

however; wrote in a threatening tone to

Faulkner; demanding a surrender of the

author of the obnoxious article。 The

answer to this application is still in my

possession; and is penned in an apologetic

tone: it states that the manuscript had

been handed in; paid for; and inserted as

an advertisement; without sufficient

inquiry; or any knowledge as to whom it

referred。



No step; however; was taken to clear

my uncle's character in the judgment of

the public; and as he immediately sold a

small property; the application of the

proceeds of which was known to none; he

was said to have disposed of it to enable

himself to buy off the threatened information。

However the truth might have been;

it is certain that no charges respecting the

mysterious murder were afterwards publicly

made against my uncle; and; as far as

external disturbances were concerned; he

enjoyed henceforward perfect security and

quiet。



A deep and lasting impression; however;

had been made upon the public mind; and

Sir Arthur Tn was no longer visited

or noticed by the gentry and aristocracy of

the county; whose attention and courtesies

he had hitherto received。 He accordingly

affected to despise these enjoyments which

he could not procure; and shunned even

that society which he might have commanded。



This is all that I need recapitulate of my

uncle's history; and I now recur to my own。

Although my father had never; within my

recollection; visited; or been visited by; my

uncle; each being of sedentary; procrastinating;

and secluded habits; and their respective

residences being very far

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